Manchester United sealed their place in the FA Cup semi-final in dramatic fashion this evening, securing a 3-1 victory over Fulham on the back of a couple of minutes of madness from the visitors at Old Trafford.
Fulham were the better side for most of the contest, creating a number of chances and forcing some quality saves out of David de Gea.
They would eventually take the lead early in the second half, with Aleksandar Mitrovic scoring an excellent goal from a corner.
OLD TRAFFORD STUNNED 😱
Aleksandar Mitrović bags for @FulhamFC, and grabs his first FA Cup goal in the process 😲#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/yKvUUVLr63— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 19, 2023
From that point, it looked as though there would be only one winner. Fulham continued to create chances and came close to doubling their lead on a couple of occasions.
However, the game was soon turned on its head.
It came after Willian cleared a Jadon Sancho effort off the line, with the referee initially awarding a corner. It would soon become clear that the Brazilian had actually handled the ball, with the referee overturning his original decision after consulting the VAR monitor.
📽️⚡️:
@CARTER7ii pic.twitter.com/YzcnJKbiK4— الحساب الاساسي CARTER7ii@ (@fgygfyh) March 19, 2023
Fulham boss Marco Silva was sent off for accosting the referee during the VAR check, with Willian following soon after as a result of the handball.
Mitrovic then decided to get involved, shouting at the official before shoving him. He was also sent off a result.
@SIRDlV pic.twitter.com/0z9IqxtZL9
— SIRDLV (@HISIRDLV) March 19, 2023
Bruno Fernandes would score the resulting penalty, meaning Fulham had two men sent off and conceded an equaliser in the space of around a minute.
It quickly got even worse for the away side, conceding a second goal almost immediately from the kick-off that followed.
A glorious touch 🤩
Marcel Sabitzer provides the magic for @ManUtd#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/I8NXdjsdCj— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 19, 2023
From this point, United would see out the game in a comfortable fashion against nine men, with Fernandes adding a third goal deep into injury time.
They will now face Brighton in the semi-final at Wembley Stadium next month.
Roy Keane hammers Fulham for Manchester United collapse
Fulham were in a position to the win the game, and while conceding the penalty was one thing, they deserve little sympathy for their reaction in the aftermath of the incident.
Speaking on ITV after the game, Roy Keane said that Fulham have nobody but themselves to blame for the way the game turned out.
It was self-destruction, that reaction from the manager and the players. Obviously it's an emotional game, we've all been there.
It's a mad one, a mad 90 seconds that has cost them the game. It wasn't really about United winning, it was more about Fulham finding a way to lose.
I have no sympathy for Fulham. They might be getting one or two plaudits, they won't be getting any from me.
They had an opportunity and the blew it...
It's a big issue getting those sending offs. I think it's okay when a player goes in and mistimes a tackle, but when it's for a bit of madness like that, there is a heavy price to pay for those sending offs going into their league campaign...
It has fallen apart in front of Silva's eyes. I will try and defend him, I've been a manager, there is great expectation and you're trying to win at Old Trafford, then he sees it falling apart in front of him.
We don't know what he has said to the referee.
Silva said after the game that he was unsure why the referee had sent him off, as he was protesting the fact that there had not been a VAR check for a couple of their penalty shouts in the opening half.
It was certainly a case of opportunity missed for Fulham, who blew a golden opportunity to secure a place in an FA Cup semi-final.
As for Manchester United, they will fancy their chances of booking a sport in a second domestic cup final of the season.
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